USS Canon (PG-90)

USS Canon PG-90
Narrative and photos provided by Dave Donaldson

USS
CANON (PG-90) was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company of Tacoma, Washington.
The keel was laid on 28 June, 1966 and the ship was launched on 10 June, 1967 and
commissioned on 26 July, 1968. She was decommissioned at U. S. Naval Station,
San Diego, CA. on 31 January, 1977.

CANON was named after two cities, the old
mining town of Canon, Colorado, and the city of Canon, Georgia, a small
farming town in the states northeastern foothills.

Each
command within the U.S. Navy is authorized to display an emblem and motto
symbolic of its mission. The officers and men of CANON have selected a crest
designed by Miss Arlou M. Hunter of Seattle to carry on this tradition. The
oval design is intended to focus on the three symbols therein. The naval
cannon represents the firepower and might of this class of gunboat as well as
illustrating the ship’s name. The winged Mercury typifies CANON’s speed
and flexible maneuverability, and the lightning bolt ties together these two
attributes of power and speed. The three cannon balls stacked accessible to
the cannon show CANON’s ability for quick reaction and being "at the
ready." The encircling design in rope shows that these attributes are
working nautically to enforce Naval Seapower. The motto "In Harms
Way" is taken from a quote by John Paul Jones to M. de Chaumont on 16
November 1778 when he said "I wish to have no connection with any ship
that does not sail fast for I intend to go In Harm’s Way." CANON was
built to be a fast ship, and she stands ready to go In Harm‘s Way to
preserve peace in the world.

In company with USS MEEKER COUNTY (LST-980),
CANON deployed for the Republic of Viet Nam on 15 June 1971. As on the
previous transit of the Pacific, most of the crew's time was spent in the
exercise of General Quarters drills, board and search drills, and weapons
system drills. CANON chopped to CTF 115 on 24 June and the next day arrived in
Cam Rahn Bay for two days of briefing and replenishment. On 28 June, CANON
relieved USS READY (PG-87) and commenced Market Time Operations in Area 9B.

From 28 June to 14 July, CANON patrolled its
designated area. Ship operations during this period involved the usual Market
Time routine of board and search coupled with a few instances of harassment
and interdiction gunfire. On 9 July, CANON patrolled the Bo De/Cu Lon Rivers
for the first time. Five days later, on 14 July, while on patrol, CANON was
ambushed by enemy forces near the mouth of the Bo De River. A rocket hit in
the port engine room placed the hydraulic system out of commission, rendering
the pitch system inoperative, and CANON drifted aground on the river's right
bank. Accomplishing emergency repairs, CANON was dislodged with the assistance
of two PCF's and its own starboard shaft and returned to Sea Float. Ordered to
Cam Rahn Bay for repairs, CANON proceeded to that port under its own power.

With repairs completed by 27 July, CANON
returned to its patrol duties, this time to Market Time Operation Area 8B.
Again, routine operations were a matter of course with escort duty serving as
a secondary responsibility. On 9 August, CANON returned to the Bo De/Cu Lon
Rivers and the next day escorted USS BRULE (AKL-28) to Sea Float. After
spending the night as naval gunfire support ship for Sea Float, CANON returned
to the river to conduct routine patrol. At 0920 CANON encountered hostile
forces for the second time and received fire from both banks of the river. The
crew responded quickly and inflicted heavy damage on the enemy, employing both
the ship's main armament and small arms fire. This action by the enemy
resulted, in part, in the following:

Eight B-40 rocket hits to port and
starboard;

Extensive rocket damage to the bridge;

Fourteen personnel casualties, including the
Commanding Officer, of whom five were medevaced.

For this action, members of the
crew were rewarded for their heroism with three Silver Stars and five Bronze
Stars.

If anyone has any additional information about the ship such as, what operations she was
involved in while in Vietnam, I know most of the boats that deployed to
Southeast Asia were involved in SEAFLOAT and MARKET TIME, please let me know.
I would also like to know what awards the ships received ie. MUC, NUC, PUC,
Combat Action, Battle "E"... I also know that most of the Guam Boats
did Trust Territory Patrols of the Marianas Islands. I have no idea what they
did when they were in CONUS. Can anyone provide me any additional information.